Casing of Colors

As my Air Force friends know, the Army cannot do anything without having a ceremony with flags, cannons, and all of the hoopla that goes with it. It all comes down to tradition. If you watch the news at all, you know that the 1st Calvary Division, Ft. Hood, TX will deploy to Iraq to replace 4th Infantry Division.

This was a big deal and very emotional. We took the kids out of school for them to be part of the ceremony and Glenn's mom just happened to be in town! It was an awesome event. And, yes, I did get choked up and my eyes did swell with some tears, because I knew was next.

Let me share the history of casing of colors. First, the colors are a unit's guidons or flags that distinguish each unit/company from each other. All are different. The casing of the colors is an Army tradition that symbolizes the movement of the division to a new theater of operation. Basically, the big office shuts down and moves everyone, about 20,000 soldiers to a new location to operate and do what business is necessary. So........there is a big ceremony for this.....no surprise!



Here is my honey standing proud in his 1st Calvary Division Stetson. This is a big deal in 1CAV. Again..........tradition!



This is Glenn's mom. As you can see, it was a little cold, but it warmed up.




This is the horse detachment waiting for the Cav charge, which is totally Army and way cool! They dress in period clothing, ride horses and charge across the field firing pistols (blanks). Makes you proud!



At the beginning of the ceremony the 1st Cav' General's spouse is presented with yellow roses and she in turn gives the horse detachment a basket of carrots. Again......tradition! I love tradition!


Of course, no Army ceremony would be complete without cannons!




These are the units that fall under 1st Cav. They are posting their colors just before the casing.



The colors are now being presented to the Commanding General.



Here the General has given authority to case the 1st Cav Division colors. Remember.....tradition! They actually rolls the colors up and they are encased in special containers to get ready to transport. There will be an uncasing of the colors ceremony in Iraq and once again when they return home........tradition!


Here, the colors are being prepared for their special case.


This is the special case.



Finished and ready to go.



So each unit/company then cases their colors and are now presented to the Commanding General. Can you visualize the swelling of tears in my eyes?! This where I got a little choked up, because I knew this was really going to happen!



Our Cav troop dressed in period clothing ending the ceremony by taking the colors away.

As part of the "charge", to say, "look out, here we come!" there were 8 helicopters that flew over along with the horse detachement charge. This, of course, was one of the coolest parts! Helicopters, horses charging, pistols firing..........just very HOOAH! (That means really cool in Army language!)

Here are some horses charging across the field. It was cool! (The tears were still there!)

This is the 1Cav Horse Detachment coming back after their charge.

Doesn't this just make you proud to be an American?! It was an awesome experience that I was happy to be a part of, despite the reason for the ceremony.

Keep all of our soldiers, near and far, in your thoughts and prayers as they prepare for their long journey.

Peace.